According to researchers, over 90 percent of women attempting to conceive are experiencing marginal or low levels of essential vitamins crucial for a healthy pregnancy, and this issue is exacerbating with the increasing popularity of vegetarian diets.
Tests were conducted on more than 1,700 women in Singapore, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom who were planning to conceive. The results revealed that the majority of them lacked nutrients abundant in dairy and meat products, vital for the healthy development of the fetus.
Lead author Prof Keith Godfrey from the University of Southampton, an epidemiologist, expressed surprise at the prevalence of low or marginal nutrient levels, stating, “For the individual, the simple answer is that unless you’re following a really high-quality diet, you may need to consider taking a supplement,” as reported by The Guardian.
The Nipper study, involving women aged 18 to 38, explores whether combinations of nutrients and probiotics taken before and during pregnancy can enhance the health of both mothers and babies.
The doctors measured blood levels of essential nutrients after recruiting the women, randomly assigning them to either a standard vitamin supplement for pregnant women containing folic acid, beta-carotene, iron, calcium, and iodine, or an enhanced version. The enhanced version included additional riboflavin, vitamins B6, B12, and D, probiotics, zinc, and myo-inositol, a form of sugar.
The findings underscore the importance of nutritional considerations for women attempting to conceive, with the potential need for supplements or enriched diets to ensure optimal nutrient levels for a healthy pregnancy.
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